The next few years will be crucial to talented teen actress Dakota Fanning.
Will she become the next Ron Howard – or Jodie Foster? Or will she be lumped in with the great majority of child actors who couldn’t transition to adult screen roles?
Her latest, “Push,” tries to get a jump start on the next phase of her career.
She plays a girl with psychic powers – she can see the future and make a pretty good sketch from it. She teams up with “Fantastic Four’s” Chris Evans, who can move objects with his mind, to escape the clutches of “The Division.”
That group, led by a bored Djimon Hounsou, is trying to capture them in order to bolster for the government’s defense department.
Or something like that.
Fannings’ character sports a miniskirt and some seriously tall boots, and midway through the film she embraces her first drunk scene.
Kids grow up fast, don’t they?
She’s a good enough actress not to embarrass herself, but she should be ashamed for tackling such a mess of a movie.
“Push” is so frenetic, so packed with noble ideas that simple storytelling is shoved aside (did you really expect me to type ‘pushed?’). Some of those concepts might work in a more coherent film.
It helps that Evans and Fanning make a charming duo, and the fight sequences are momentarily thrilling. “Push” also delivers a level of grit that sets it apart from other mutant films like the “X-Men” franchise.
“Push” is this year’s “Jumper,” an incomprehensible action flick with a few good ideas and a whole lotta lousy execution.
(Photo: Dakota Fanning plays a girl with psychic powers in “Push.” Photo credit: Courtesy of Summit Entertainment)
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Sounds like “Scanners” with the annoying politics of “Firestarter” crammed in. Pass.
Am I the only one who thinks she’s either a bit overrated as an actress, or her material is not up to par with her hightly-touted abilities? At the very least, it’s got to be the latter, seeing as how I’ve never enjoyed or admired ANY of her films to date…
I think Fanning is as good as they say she is … but she does work a lot … and when you tackle so many movies you’re bound to pick clunkers. I haven’t even seen Houndog which is supposed to be dreadful.
In any case, she (or her handlers) should really opt for quality over quantity, which could burn her out too soon, regardless of her age…
You’re right, StringerB — she should be as cautious about the films she chooses as any other actor. It’s one of the best ways to forge a long career in Hollywood.